Monday, November 4, 2013

Learning to Exercise

Exercising
does not come naturally to most of us. A very subjective estimate may go like
this-

- - 90%
never exercised and believe they do not need to;

- - 5%
think only overweight needs to exercise;

- - of the
remaining 5% less than 1% is actually able to exercise and sustain it over a
long period of time.

Exercising is
a lifestyle issue and not a stop-gap arrangement as if under some medication to
get desired results. Empirical research has always proved that optimal level of
exercising strengthens both internal and external organs of human body. But
despite all what is written, read and understood very few of us are able to
introduce exercise as a permanent change in their lifestyle.

Last year, I
began exercising after a gap of some 15 years. In the interim, I had several failed
attempts to introduce it permanently into my lifest with efforts lasting maximum
3-4 months. When I tried again in March 2012, I was not sure of being
successful. I started off with a very light exercise regime so that I could
still be full of energy to work for 12 hours every day. The schedule I followed
was a self-developed one that gave me comfort and allowed my body to adjust to exercising.
Coupled with some diet restrictions I was able to get desired results. My
weight reduced by 15 kgs, waist shrunk by 3 inches, stamina increased to a
level that from being out of breath ascending few stairs, I could run at 9km/hr
for min of 45 minutes with ease.

Post 12
months of exercising for atleast 5 days a week, I was back to having a diet which
was twice was what I ate in last two years. Once we attain the permanent change-
which in my opinion is possible after exercising regularly for a min of 12
months- diet plays an important role to ensure that your body is not devoid of
minerals and vitamins in requisite quantity. In other words, no such diet
control from quantity perspective is applicable. It should find balance with
the quantum of exercise we do.

My schedule
was also put to test accidentally by my friend who was overweight (by 30 kgs)
and was worried when Doctors he visited were threatening to put him on medication-
1 tablet for cholesterol, 1 for blood pressure control and a couple more for
other associated problems. It is not less than a shock for anyone to hear from
a Doctor that he/she is ill. Our whole approach to our bodies (that is usually
least cared for) becomes very scientific. We immediately get concerned about
what we eat, how much we work and the rest we get. Most of us usually end-up
blaming polluted food we get to eat and not the choices we make to eat. Blame
our work schedule for strain and inappropriate sleep. But that is not the case
always. Fault lies with us and we are blame for the problem at hand.

In first
month, my friend called me to say that he had followed my schedule and was
able to reduce his weight by 7 kgs and as per Doctors he should continue to
build on the new exercise regime. My friend was amongst those who had not
exercised before and was settling down comfortably into the exercise regime
developed. What he followed is presented below for the benefit of all others. I
suggest consult your Doctor with the schedule below, if in case you intend to
follow, and then go ahead only when he confirms it to you.